Manually operated starting device for outboard motors



p 4, 1951 I R. c. HEIDNER 2,566,834

MANUALLY OPERATED. STARTING DEVICE FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed Jan. 26, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

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ATTOQNEY p 1951 R. c. HEIDNER 2,566,834

MANUALLY OPERATED STARTING DEVICE FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed Jan. 26, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. .Q/CHA P0 C, HE/DNER A TTORNE )1 Patented Sept. 4, 1951 MAN UALLY OPERATED STARTING DEVICE F OR OUTBOARD MOTORS Richard O. Heidner, Hartford, Wis., assignor to West Bend Aluminum 00., West Bend, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 26, 1950, Serial No. 140,705

7 Claims. 1

' This invention relates to improvements in manually operated starting devices for outboard motors. l

The operation of manually pulled starter ropes exerts a force which inconveniently rocks the motor about its horizontal pivotal connection to the swivel bracket. In addition to this, the

starter rope interferes with removal of the engine hood or cover. One way of eliminating these difliculties consists of placing the starting device between the engine and swivel bracket. This is not satisfactory, however, because (a) it raises the engine which being heavier than the starting device increases the height of the combined center of gravity and (b) it is difficult to repair or replace starter springs, ropes, and pawls.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a starting device which: does not rock the outboard motor about the horizontal pivot of the swivel bracket when force is applied thereto; and is enclosed within an engine cover removablefrom the outboard motor without interference to such startingdevice, such advantages being attained without increasing the vertical height of the center of gravity of the entire outboard motor.

This object is obtained by leading the pull rope of the rewind starter mounted as customary on the top of the engine through directional devices downwardly of the engine and outwardly through an opening in a cover support carried by the outboard motor at the bottom of the engine. While such opening is above the horizontal pivot of the swivel bracket there is so little distance between such pivot and such opening that the moment about such pivot created by the force necessary to operate the starter is not large enough to overcome the opposite moment about such pivot created by the weight of the outboard motor and thus it will not rock such motor. As the pull cord passes through the cover support the cover may be removed without disturbing the starter or pull cord.

The novel features, which are considered characteristic of the invention, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of an outboard motor having a starting device embodying the present invention, with part broken away and shown in section for the sake of clarity in illustration; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the outboard motor and starting device shown in Fig. 1 with part broken away and shown in section for the sake of clarity in illustration.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, the outboard motor designated generally HI has a lower leg [2 which is turnaoly mounted in a swivel bracket 14. The bracket i4 is adapted to be secured to the transom of the board in the customary manner andhas a horizontal pivot to about which the outboard motor swings when it is desired to raise the lower leg 12 and propeller out or the water. The lower leg 12 carries at its upper end an engine (not shown) and a supporting plate It. The supporting plate 18 is positioned at the bottom of the engine and has a peripheral margin which extends laterally about the engine to detachably carry a'cover or hood 26 for enclosing the engine and the starting device 22.

The starting device 22 is of the rewind type, such as described in United States Patents Nos. 2,374,685 and 2,348,547. It is carried in a starter support 24 secured to the engine and is positioned above the engine so as to be engageable with the crankshaft during the starting operation. The starting device 22 has a vertical axis drum 26 on which a pull rope 28 or other flexible line or wire is wound, the pull rope leading laterally out of the starting device 22 in a substantially horizontal plane. At the place where the pull rope 28 leaves the startersupport 24, a pulley 30 is rotatably mounted in a bracket 32 carried on such supporting plate. The pull rope leads over this pulley and its direction is changed approximately ninety degrees downwardly so that it leads vertically downwardly from such pulley toward the bottom of the engine. A second pulley 34 is rotatably mounted below the pulley 32 by a bracket 36 secured to the support plate I8. The pull rope leads over this second pulley and its direction is changed approximately ninety degrees upwardly so that it leads laterally in a substantially horizontal plane from said second pulley. The plate I8 is provided with a pull rope outlet or opening 38 through which the pull rope 28 extends as it leads from said second pulley. It is preferable that the outer end of the rope be provided with a handle 40.

In order to operate the starting device the handle 40 is grasped and the pull rope 28 drawn in a substantially horizontal plane outwardly of the outboard motor. This, in the manner well known to those skilled inthis art, causes the crankshaft of the engine to be'rotated. When the pull rope 28 is released the starting device will automatically rewind such rope on the drum 26. It is a feature of this invention that the a final low substantially horizontal lead. This moment, being proportioned ftQ the relatively short distance between such lower, horizontal lead and such pivot, is not sufiicient to overcome the moment of opposite direction cregated'bythe weight of the outboard motor actingvertically' downwardly at a much greater distance to the right of such pivot. By using a direction changer for the pull rope, the starting device, which is to the exterior thereof, said pull rope extending from said second pulley outwardly through said opening and having a handle attached to the outer end thereof, and a cover for said engine and device resting on" said portiori above said opening -whe"reby said cov'er may be removed from said outboard motor without disturbing said pull rope.

n l In an outboard motor, an engine at the upper end thereof having a rewind starting device mounted thereabove, a mounting bracket for said outboardfmotor having a horizontal pivot about whichsaid outboard motor swings, a support" platesecured'to said outboard motor and much lighter than theengine, may be'car'ried above the engine and the engine mounted closer to the horizontal plarie'ofpivot -l'61 This'keeps the overall center of gray y of'the-outboard motor lower than 'would'be-th' caseifthe-engine were raised to permit-thestarting device to be positioned between the engine'and the horizontel-plane of such plvotw I 7 Although only oneemb'odiment ofthe invention is shown' an'd'desc'ribed herein; it will be understood that this application isintended to cover such' changes "orm'odificatiens as come within the spirit-of the-inventionor scope of the following claims;-- a

Iclaim:

1. In an outboard' moto-r having a mounting bracket to which'said'motor-is pivoted by a horizontal pivot,'a startingdevice at the upper end of said motor, a' pull-rope extending --irom said device, and a directionchanger-having a ropeengaging portiohfor direCting said rope first downwardly of said device and a second rope-engaging portion for directing said rope outwardly of said motor, said secondportion' being posi 1,5

tioned closely adjacent salidipivot whereb the moment of force tending to'rock said outboard motor about said pivot when said rope is pulled V to operate said starting device is reduced; to an amount ineffecive to rock said motor.- I

2. In an outboardmoton an engine-at the upper end thereof havinga' 'rewind-rsta-rting device mounted thereaboveiar pull rope for said device extending laterally thereof,:a"supportplate secured to said outboard motor and positionedbelow said starting device, =ar'r opening leading laterally through said support platep a direction changer having a rope-engaging-portion for guiding said pullrope downwardly from said. starting device and a second rop'e engaging portion for directing said rope laterally out through said opening, and a cover detachably carried on said support plate enclosing said engine, starting "device and direction changer.

3. In anloutboard motor, an engine at the up-'- per end thereof; a support member positioned at the lower end of'said, engine' 'and having apor;

tion extending beyond the outer confines of said engine adapted to carry thereon'an engine cover, a rewind starting device positioned above said engine, a pull rope for said device leading tangentially therefrom, a;pulley mounted on said starting device and engageable with said pull rope to change the tangentialzdirection thereof to :a longitudinal direction with respect to said device; a second pulley mounted'on said support member below said first mentioned pulley and adapted to change the longitudinal "direction of "said :pull rope back to a tangential direction relative tosaid device, an opening in said support plate leading closelyqpositioned-above said horizontal pivot,

a pu1l rope for said device extending laterally thereof; a pulley secured to said device and en-' gaging with said pull rope to change the direction thereof downwardly" fSaiddevice; a second pulley secured'to said support plate"'closto='said horizontal pivot and changing the direction of said pull ropeto-laterally outward of said plate, an opening in saidsupport plate through which said pullrope leads as it leaves -the said second ='pu1ley-', and a cover detachablymounted-on said c changer for said 'pull rope' having a last place of engagement with said pull-rope positioned between the planes of'said pivot and drum" nor mal to said longitudinal axis} 7 6 'In an outboard m'otor having a longitudinal axis a; pivot th' "axis 2 01 is noilfial" to said longitudinal axis" upon which said motor is swingably-supported a starting device for said motor having a pull rope drum the axis of ro tation of which is parallel to said longitudinal axis, apull ropefor said devicei'and a direction changer for said 'puli rope 'hayin'g a -last place oi engagementwith *said pull rope =positidned nearer to the *plane of said pivot 'norrnalitosaid longitudinal axis than to the plane 'ofsaid drum normal to such axis."

1. In an outboard motor swing'ably'supported on a horizontal pivot with-an engin above the horizontal plane of-"said' 'pivota'nd 'a' 'sta rtin'g tie vice mounted above said engine witha "pun rope having an upper substantially horizontal lead,

a 1 direction changer having a first? rope 'e'ngagi-ng portion for directing-said rope downwardly from RICI I ARlD C Presses? REFsmiNoE's oIrED- The following re erences-are or record mine file of'this patent! V UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

